National Geographic Channel is set to air its first-ever late-night series, “Star Talk,” which will be hosted by renowned physicist and “Cosmos” presenter Neil deGrasse Tyson.
The science network also announced two other shows from Wednesday’s Television Critics Association press tour in Pasadena, “Dino Autopsy” and “History of the World.”
“Star Talk,” based on Tyson’s popular podcast of the same name, will attempt to bridge the gap between pop culture and science. “Dino Autopsy,” as the title suggests, will take a paleontologists approach to dinosaur bones. “History of the World,” meanwhile, will be a docu-comedy series from the makers of “King of the Hill.”
Tyson, who recently found success with “Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey,” will invite celebrities, comedians and scientists on “Star Talk” to discuss the latest developments across the universe. The series, produced by National Geographic Studios and will be taped in front of a studio audience at the American Museum of Natural History, premieres in 2015.
“’Cosmos’ allowed us to share the awesome power of the universe with a global audience in ways that we never thought possible,” Tyson said in a statement. “To be able to continue to spread wonder and excitement through Star Talk, which is a true passion project for me, is beyond exciting. And National Geographic Channel is the perfect home as we continue to explore the universe.”
Though still in the early stages of production, “History of the World” will mix comedy, animation and documentary storytelling techniques to broach a variety of educational topics, including the evolution of man and the origins of civilization. National Geographic Channel (NGC), along with Altschuler & Krinsky Works (“Silicon Valley,” “King of the Hill,” “Blades of Glory”), 3Arts Entertainment (“Parks and Rec,” “Always Sunny in Philadelphia”) and National Geographic Studios will produce the miniseries event.
“As we continue to develop and evolve our brand, we’re always looking to push style and format boundaries, and History of the World is the perfect example,” said Tim Pastore, National Geographic’s President of Original Programming and Production. “This docu-comedy series will not only have the signature National Geographic storytelling that is both authentic and credible, but we’ll also inject a unique sense of humor giving the history of the world a little bit of heart … and hopefully lots of laughs.”
“Dino Autopsy,” premiering this summer, will combine biology with paleontology to explore and recreate a Tyrannosaurus Rex, for example. The series is produced for National Geographic Channels International (NGCI) by Impossible Factual.